SOURCE : Edison Films, July 1906, pp. 55-56.
Two Acts -- Ten Scenes and Tableau.
The Kleptomaniac (Mrs. Banker) -- Miss. Aline Boyd
Store Detective -- Mr. Phineas Nairs
Female Detective -- Miss. Jane Stewart
Superintendent Department Store -- Mr. George Voijere
The Thief -- Miss. Ann Egleston
Police Court Judge -- Mr. W. S. Rising
Justice -- Miss. Helen Courtney
Shoppers, Salesladies, Cash Girls, Policemen, Prisoners
ACT I.
Scene I. -- Leaving Home.
The opening scene shows a beautiful residence in a fashionable residential section of New York city. A handsome and richly gowned lady is descending the steps, while a stylish victoria, with coachman and footman in full livery, is waiting at the door. She enters the carriage, gives the footman his orders and drives off. All the surroundings indicate wealth and fashion. Mrs. Banker is going on a shopping tour.
Scene II. -- Arrival at Department Store.
The next scene shows a well-known department store at Herald Square, New York city. A stylish turnout is coming down Broadway and stops in front of the main entrance. The footman jumps from the box and Mrs. Banker alights and enters the store.
Scene III. -- Interior Department Store.
The interior of the department store is shown. Shoppers are busily engaged making purchases at the different counters. Cash girls are running about in all directions and a floor walker is busy giving orders and directing and attending to the wants of customers. Presently Mrs. Banker is seen approaching the hosiery counter. The saleslady waits on her and shows her the different styles, but none appear to suit her. While the saleslady's back is turned for a moment, Mrs. Banker quickly conceals a pair of hose in her muff and then passes on to the glove counter. In the meantime, her actions have excited the suspicion of a female detective, who now shadows her from counter to counter. At the glove counter she purchases some gloves and orders them sent home, and at a favorable moment adroitly slips a pair into her muff. The lynx-eyed female detective, however, has detected her in the act, informs the floor walkers, and then leaves to find the store detective, and both soon return to the scene. Mrs. Banker is now at the silverware counter, closely watched by the detective. To distract the clerk's attention she requests to be shown some article in a rear case, and while the clerk's back is turned she seizes the opportunity to take a silver flask from the counter and secrete it in her muff. As she turns to go the female detective steps up and accuses her of the theft, which she indignantly denies. The store detective now approaches and conducts Mrs. Banker away through a throng of curious shoppers, who have been attracted by the excitement and commotion.
Scene IV. -- Superintendent's Office.
The scene shows the interior of the superintendent's office. He is occupied at his desk while the stenographer is transcribing on the typewriter. The female detective enters and explains the situation. Presently Mrs. Banker enters accompanied by the store detective. The female detective boldly accuses her of shoplifting. Mrs. Banker, in a most haughty manner, denies the charge, whereupon the female detective quickly snatches her muff and withdraws the stolen articles. Mrs. Banker then breaks down and confesses and pleads for mercy. The superintendent is deaf to her entreaties, and the store detective leads her away.
Scene V. -- Under Arrest.
The scene now returns to the exterior of the store. The carriage is still waiting. Mrs. Banker and the detective enter the carriage and drive away.
Scene VI. -- Police Station.
The exterior of the police station house is shown. A carriage drives up to the door, and the occupants alight and enter the building. We recognize Mrs. Banker and the store detective.
ACT II
Scene I. -- The Home of Poverty.
A scantily furnished room. Poverty and hunger are plainly in evidence. A poor woman is seated at a table with her face buried in her hands. Her youngest child is seated on the floor crying with hunger. Presently a young girl enters. She is evidently the older daughter, who has been out begging in the streets but has returned empty-handed. In desperation the mother throws a shawl over her head and rushes from the room.
Scene II. -- The Thief.
A street scene. An errand boy is coming out of a grocery store with a basket on his arm. The proprietor rushes out and sends him back to the store for some things he has forgotten. The boy leaves his basket at the door and goes back into the store. At this moment a poor woman comes along, takes a loaf of bread from the basket and hides it under her shawl. The proprietor, who has watched her, rushes out, seizes her and calls for the police. An officer soon appears and drags the woman off to the patrol wagon.
Scene III. -- In the Police Patrol.
The scene shows the exterior of a police station house. A patrol wagon is being rapidly driven up the street and stops in front of the station house in the middle of the street. The snow is piled high up on both sides, making it impossible to drive up to the sidewalk. A poor woman is taken from the wagon by an officer and led into the station house.
Scene IV. -- Police Court.
A court room seat. The judge enters and takes his seat. He raps for order and opens the court. Among the motley crowd of prisoners the judge discerns Mrs. Banker . He calls a court attendant and instructs him to give Mrs. Banker a chair away from the other prisoners. The clerk then proceeds to call the case.
The first prisoner before the bar is a tough. His blackened eye and battered condition tell their own story. He is quickly sentenced. Vagrancy and larceny cases follow and no time is lost in disposing of them. The next case is one of disorderly conduct. A flashily dressed woman appears and tries to flirt with the judge. She is quickly given an extra sentence "on the island" for her impertinence, and as she is led away by the officer she raises her foot and dress and waves ta-ta to the judge.
The next case is petty larceny. We recognize the poor woman in the two preceding scenes. The officer who arrested her, as well as the groceryman, appear against her. She pleads for mercy. Her little daughter rushes to her side and falls on her knees and pleads to the judge for her mother. But the judge is deaf to all entreaties, and the poor woman is sentenced and led away.
The next case is shoplifting. Mrs. Banker is led to the bar. Her husband, accompanied by a lawyer appears in her defense. The female detective gives her evidence, but the judge ignores her testimony and discharges the prisoner, who falls weeping into her husband's arms.
Tableau -- Justice
A tableau of the figure of Justice. On one side of the scale is a bag of gold, and on the other a loaf of bread. The balance shows in favor of the gold. The bandage on the brow of Justice, however, discloses one eye.
Fully described and illustrated in Circular No. 233. 670 ft.